Quality is the best business plan

“Everything I do and everything Pixar does is based on a simple rule: Quality is the best business plan, period.

I love this quote for several reasons. First, it makes perfect sense in light of what people like about Pixar. They tell well-crafted, sophisticated stories that are universal yet simple to understand. Second, it’s a litmus test for every decision the company makes. All decisions can be tested against it. Will this lead to better quality? Will this make the story great? If so, let’s do it. If not, kill it.

Not all business plans are about putting quality first. Some business plans are focused on growing market share, some are focused on low pricing, and many are about finding a niche in the marketplace and just surviving. But this one, putting quality first, seems like a good strategy in a world where things can be made faster and faster every day.